13 Things You Should (Almost) Never Put in a Text Here are some good reminders of do’s and don’ts about texting. It’s a tool. Be sure you are in control of the tool!
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What is the Difference Between Antivirus and Antimalware?
There are some simple steps you can take to protect your computer from viruses and malware. Malware is short for malicious software and a virus is just one type of malware. They are a constant threat to every internet user. They attack your system and stop it from running. The best way to protect your computer against viruses and malware is to install an antivirus program or an antimalware program, for that matter.
MCC Tax Experts – Marketing Consulting
Pamela upgraded my business by helping me with so many things – she overhauled my website, plans and sends monthly newsletters for me, and gives me great advice about spending a limited marketing budget. My business is growing faster than I had imagined, and I give YCL a lot of credit.
DeeAnne McClenahan
MCC Tax Experts
Surviving the Scam Surge
Yes, you are getting hit with more spam emails and calls — and now spam texts — than at any point in the history of these devices. These messages are frequently dangerous! They often try to steal your data, identity and/or money — and the crooks are getting better and better.Here with some tips from security experts on how to protect yourself:
Simply do not answer calls or respond to texts from numbers you don’t recognize. If it’s a legitimate call/text, they’ll leave a message and you can call right back. Even if the area code indicates the number is local, don’t answer.
Likewise, don’t respond to emails from people you don’t recognize. That’s the easiest way for the spammer to verify your email so they can share it with their buddies and hit you with more junk mail. Just delete the message.
Only report as spam if you recognize the sender. For example, if I suddenly get an email from ABC manufacturing and I am sure I didn’t sign up to get their emails, I would report it as spam. I would know they grabbed my email from a membership list somewhere.
Don’t have your actual email show on your website. Instead of Pamela@YourComputerLady.com put “Email Pamela” and make the words a link to the email address. The link opens an email on the visitor’s computer so they can easily email you. But it’s harder for a spammer to grab the link. They’re too lazy to make the extra step.
Verify everything. If you get what looks like a request for information or a bill from a government office or retailer, call that agency or company to verify that it’s real. Scammers try to hit your hot buttons to suck you in. Offers to pay off your student loans or telling you there’s an issue with your online shopping order.
Pay attention even to emails from people you know. I recently received an email from a client. But the subject line was odd and the attachment was a file type she typically wouldn’t send me. Sure enough, when I texted to confirm it was legit, she told me her email had been hacked.
I absolutely, with no reservation, promise you Dell, Microsoft, Apple – hardware and software retailers of that level – will never call you to tell you there is a problem with their computer or with their software. Hang up!
Never click a link in a text from a number you don’t know.
Don’t even respond if you get a robocall that tells you to press a certain key on your phone to stop getting calls. Getting you to click on something is one of the quickest ways for scammers to get your personal information or at least verify that what they have is correct.
You can quickly forward spam text messages to 7726 to report them.
Put your landlines and cell phones on the FTC’s Do Not Call list to avoid telemarketers. Or better yet, do not answer calls from numbers you don’t recognize.
Want more info? Here are some guides on avoiding spam calls and texts and emails.
Source Data: Robokiller. Chart: Baidi Wang/Axios.
A Technology Parable
A new client came to YCL for marketing support. The tax preparation company was a little over a year old.
First, the website! The hub of all marketing efforts. The client uses a proprietary site built for people in her specific industry. They offer industry-related tools. They offer a high level of security which is certainly needed. In this case, a proprietary site is her best option. Creating a WordPress site would be too costly with all of the special features.
The site did need some work to expand the content. The two of us went over the site page by page. I suggested some changes and new content as a non-industry person to help her explain what she does to prospects. The updates were done in November well before the start of tax season. As referrals started coming and leads came in from her marketing, the site was ready to convert prospects to clients. And it was ready to be a big resource for clients.
Managing Tasks – Every client is different and has different requirements. Some clients need tax extensions. So she needed a way to keep track of all the various tasks for all the tax filings. I suggested ToDoIst. It’s an online software that is cost-effective and user friendly. She started using it in December to learn the in’s and out’s. Over the course of the next few months when her business more than doubled from the previous year, she was able to juggle all of the balls in the air!
We used email marketing to remind past clients of how knowledgeable she is so they would return for this year’s tax filing. The same messages convinced prospects that she was the right person to work with. We used the email articles as social media posts and blog posts too. One effort was used three ways! That’s time efficient! We started the eNewsletter in December also. It takes seven “touches” on average to turn a prospect into a client. We used the emails as touches to move the prospects through the sales funnel.
The Moral of this Story
By building her technology and marketing foundation before the season started, this tax preparer was able to more than double her business and focus on doing what she does best – tax returns – while her marketing engine continued to drive the clients to her. And she didn’t have to burn the midnight oil even once!
Call or email today so we can get started on making the best plan for your business!
Contact our technology-prepared tax expert at:
DeeAnne McClenahanCongratulations Gebo-books on Publishing Your New Dating Book!
Laura Hines-Jurgens recently published a new book offering advice and guidance to young women about dating and “shaping your marriage before it begins.” Your Computer Lady was privileged to be part of the editing and publishing process.
Do you need assistance publishing your book?You may be a wonderful writer but how are you on Oxford commas or the proper use of quotation marks? Do you know how to create a Table of Contents? Do you know how to consistently format your content? Your Computer Lady can assist!
Laura chose to self-publish her book on Amazon. She is an experienced author and can promote the book via her network. Your Computer Lady handled all of the Amazon set up for the book. The process isn’t hard but it does require some significant computer skills to fit Amazon’s criteria.
Please call YCL to talk about your next book project!
Check out Laura’s book! It would be a great gift for the young women in your life.
Instagram hashtags
Hashtags can be confusing! Are they entertaining additional content or marketing tools? This article explains how to make them marketing tools so your IG content reaches more people.
Congratulations CSI Houston Chapter on Your New Website!
The Houston Chapter of CSI (Construction Specifications Institute) has been a YCL client for over 10 years!
We just updated their WordPress website to reflect the organization’s new logo and goals.
We started with a new design developed with a member committee. There was a mixture of new and old content to put on the site including several years of blog posts with chapter history.
We’re very proud of the results! Take a look!
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